The Programmer Cultivator

Dang Xiangjun studied Zhang Deming seriously for a long moment before finally saying, ”Alright, I’ll shoulder this. I hope you’re not setting me up.”

A look of delight appeared on Zhang Deming’s face. ”Martial Uncle, you can rest assured,” he said. ”But I only guarantee this specific copy. If you make any mistakes while transcribing it, that’s not on me.”

Dang Xiangjun nodded. ”You can rest assured on that point. While I don’t call all the shots in the Sect, at least no one these days would dare make me a scapegoat.”

Zhang Deming smiled. ”Then I thank you, Martial Uncle.”

Dang Xiangjun asked, ”Is your reward just these two things?”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Yes, just these two. Once they’re taken care of, I’ll just be fulfilling my assignment regarding the Wu Earth Secret Realm and will follow the Sect’s standard procedures.”

Dang Xiangjun nodded. ”Fine. Don’t worry about the shop; you can do as you please. I’ll give the necessary orders when I return.

As for the Cultivation Technique, it will likely take at least ten days to half a month.”

”That’s fine. I’m not in a rush for that,” Zhang Deming replied. ”I’m just curious about it. As long as you can get it for me, that’s all that matters.”

”Then, regarding the Wu Earth Secret Realm, you need to start taking it more seriously from this day forward!” Dang Xiangjun said.

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Rest assured, Martial Uncle. I know my priorities. By the way, I heard the Sect has been searching for the Turtle Water Secret Realm recently?”

Dang Xiangjun paused for a moment. ”Yes. The Sect’s various departments have some ideas regarding the Secret Realms. Among the Five Elements Secret Realms, Turtle Water is the main backbone.”

”Back then, the Five Elements Blessed Land used the Turtle Water Secret Realm as its framework to link the Five Great Secret Realms, forming a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land. Only then was the Grotto Heaven able to be suspended on high.”

”Therefore, if the Sect has designs on the Five Elements Secret Realms, repairing the Geng Metal Secret Realm isn’t the most critical part. Finding Turtle Water is.”

”But the junior disciples have already expended a great deal of effort and haven’t found anything significant, just a few unimportant fragments.”

”Recently, the juniors have run out of options and want a few of us old-timers to give it a shot.”

Zhang Deming asked, ”Have there been any results?”

Dang Xiangjun shook his head. ”Nothing’s been decided yet. For a few of us old-timers to go to the back mountain, it’s a matter that requires discussion.”

”Some time ago, I gave it a cursory try myself. I estimate it’s going to take quite a bit of effort.”

Hearing this, Zhang Deming’s expression flickered. With a flip of his hand, he produced a Command Token and placed it on the table.

Dang Xiangjun eyed the Command Token in confusion, then looked up at Zhang Deming. ”This is?”

Zhang Deming smiled faintly. ”This is a Secret Realm Token I obtained through a fortunate coincidence. The entrance is located in Falling Turtle Lake.”

”Although it’s also just a broken fragment, it’s where I obtained the *Turtle Water Defense Array*. There’s even a Turtle Water Scripture Pavilion inside.”

”Judging by the former layouts of the Cyan Wood, Wu Earth, and Fire Separation Secret Realms, I believe that place is very likely the core section of Turtle Water.”

”So, I thought this might be of some help to the Sect, and to you, Martial Uncle.”

Dang Xiangjun paused. ”If that’s the case, then it’s a real possibility.”

He picked up the Command Token and examined it, frowning. ”This looks newly made, and it’s only a piece?”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”I don’t know if it’s new or not, but it is indeed just a piece. It takes five such tokens to form a complete one.”

”I have two in total. Besides this one, I’ve kept the other as a memento for my collection.”

”In any case, it’s impossible to open it without all five tokens. Besides, for elders like you, forcing open a broken Secret Realm shouldn’t be too difficult once the entrance is located.”

”Therefore, I only brought this one out for you to use as a catalyst, something to guide your search.”

Dang Xiangjun looked at the obviously new Command Token, his brow slightly furrowed. He then glanced at Zhang Deming and said, ”Alright, I’ll take it. If this leads to a real discovery, a significant Contribution will be recorded in your name. No one will dare to embezzle that.”

A look of delight spread across Zhang Deming’s face. ”Then I shall await the Sect’s good news. By the way, there is one other thing, though I’m not sure if I should mention it.”

Dang Xiangjun looked at him. ”If you have something to say, just say it.”

”A few days ago, I went out and encountered some mortals. They were remarkably strong for mortals; some were even at the Duality level...”

Dang Xiangjun shook his head, frowning slightly. ”Mortal affairs... whatever your thoughts are, just find that boy Jun’an and have him handle it.”

Zhang Deming’s lips twitched, and he swallowed the words he was about to say.

’I’d better not mention it. I finally worked up to bringing it up casually, and this is the result... Ah, the divide between Immortal and Mortal. How deeply ingrained it is.’

’Forget it. If some evil organization really does appear, the Sect is massive. Even if no one pays attention now, once enough incidents pile up, the reports will eventually make their way up the chain of command. I’ll just let it be.’

With their business concluded, the two began to chat idly. Because of Zhang Deming’s status as a Law-Level Spirit Nurturer, he wasn’t, strictly speaking, considered a complete junior.

As such, both made an effort to connect. One was an old monster, the other a young one with a solid foundation. They found no shortage of topics and chatted for a long time.

They didn’t end their conversation until the pot of Enlightenment Tea was empty. Then, Dang Xiangjun stood up and left.

Zhang Deming sat on the rooftop, watching as Dang Xiangjun stepped onto a Jade Disc and disappeared in a series of flickering steps through the air toward Celestial Spirit Peak. He fell into a thoughtful silence.

’Old ghost of the Turtle Water Secret Realm... I hope you haven’t moved your lair!’

’After all, you’ve been watching me so closely. If I didn’t return the favor with such a grand gift, it would be a disservice to all the scheming hospitality you’ve shown me, wouldn’t it?’

’I really, really hope you haven’t relocated. When the time comes, I’d love to see if you can still act so brazenly in front of the Four Symbols Ancestor.’

...